Pacific Island Communities and Social enterprise Discussion Paper

The commissioning of the Pacific Island Communities and Social Enterprise Discussion Paper was prompted by the idea that there are emerging opportunities for social enterprise to be an important pathway to better social and economic outcomes for Pacific people.

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs is keen to ensure that Pacific communities are well placed to capitalise on these opportunities. We are also mindful of challenges that might come with traditional community perceptions and expectations related to business, and the need for some guidance about how to proceed with social enterprise in the most effective way.

The paper describes social enterprise, and explores the potential for Pacific communities to become more involved. It is based on a literature review and five case studies involving either established Pacific social enterprises, or mainstream social housing providers whose clients include Pacific communities. The conclusions are presented as a useful checklist of questions for any aspiring social entrepreneur.